Sewer cleaning device



y 12, 1953 G. w. KIESLER, SR 2,637,866

SEWER CLEANING DEVICE Filed May 12, 1949 Z'mnentor 14/ (lttomeg Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES U PATENT OFFICE v f I 2,637,866 Y SEWER CLEANING DEVICE George W. Kiesler, Sr., Barrington, Ill.

Application May 12, 1949, S'eritl'No. 92,759

. The present invention relates to devices for cleaning sewers and is concerned primarily with a device that is adapted to'cut away roots and other materials which grow and accumulate in the bore of a sewer with the ultimate result clogging.

, At the present time, such conduits as sewers, septic drains, and other tubular passages which are located in the ground are subject to having their conductive bores restricted by roots growing thereinto and foreign material accumulating therein. l

The present invention has in view, as its foremost object, the provision of a tool which is adapted to cut away such roots and remove the cut roots and any foreign material which may have accumulated in the bore of this sewer or drain.

More in detail, the invention has as an object, the provision of a tool, of the type indicated, which works on the principle of an auger. Thus, the tool includes, as an essential element, a main body member in the form of a helix which is provided with means at one end for securing an operating handle thereto and which carries-at its'other end cutting elements which are adapted to cut into roots under rotating action of the tool.

When a tool of this type is inserted into the bore of a sewer, septic drain, or other comparable passage that is to be cleaned, and rotated, the helical body member will impart a forward motion to the tool causing it to feedinto the sewer. 'causes the cutting elements at the forward end to cut into the roots and other accumulated After an appropriate amount of theroots and such matter has been cut awayythe' At the same time, the rotating action matter.

tool may be withdrawn and it will bring with it these materials. In many instances, certain of thecutting elements will have cut into a root so as to form an interlock therewith, whereupon withdrawal of the tool will bring the whole root with it. i

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the inventionsuch as arise in con-- nection with carrying -out-the above notedideas in a practical embodiment will, in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the-invention proceeds. 1

The invention therefore, comprises a toolfor cleaning out sewers-and septic drains by cutting away roots and otherforeign materialsand which tool consists essentially of a helical body member in carrying cutting elements at one end and having means for attaching an operating handle to the other end.

the influence of the t 5. Claims. (c1. 1b 4.s).;

' For a full and more complete understanding ofthe invention, reference. may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing wherein Figure-1 is, an elevational showing of a tool designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention.

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the tool shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the end to which the handle is attached.

Referring now to drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, and first more particularly to Figure 1, a tubular'sleeve'is shown at It] and is formed with a slot H at one end andexternal threads I2 member being designated I1 at thejother, It is to this sleeve In that the operating handle (not illustrated) is to be attached through the medium of the threads I 2. The length of this sleeve l0 will depend upon the particular character of the sewers or drains to be cleaned. If the sewers are fairly straight, the sleeve l0 may be fairly long in extent. On the other hand, if the sewers or drains should include curves, this sleeve should be made shorter to facilitate the taking of such turns.

A V-shaped yoke is defined by a pair of diverging legs l3 and M which are joined by a bend portion l5." This bend portion 15 is receivedin the slot H and permanently secured in this position as by welding; the latter being represented at l6.- -A helical main body member is referred to initsentirety by the reference character' H and comprises a plurality of helical turns, the endmost turn at one end of said body and the endmost turns adjacent the other" end of said body member being'designated l8 and I9.

Theendmost turn ITis preferably integrally joined to the legl3 of the yoke as indicated at 20. Thexother leg" l4"of the yoke is secured to this, turn lT-diametrically opposite to the bend 20 as indicated at 2|. This connection may be established in any preferred manner such as by welding. "I

The free end of the main body member H which is formed. on'the: endmost' turn is is formed as a cutting edge 22.: Secured between the two endmostz'turns IBIan'd l9 and positioned longitudinally of the body member H is a cutting, element 23 having a cutting edge 24 along 'onelongitudinal edge thereof. This cutting element 23 may be secured in position in any preferred manner such as by the welds represented at525.and;26. A

Another cutting element 21 is arranged in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the cutting element 23, and is positioned on the endmost turn I9, and is positioned transversely of the body member H. This cutting element 21 is connected in a bend of the outermost turn H] as shown in Figure 2 and is preferably secured in this position as by welding. This cutting element 2'! is formed with a cutting edge 28 located transverselyof the .body member H and cutting in the same, direction of) rotation as the cutting edge 24.

It is evident that the tool above described presents cutting edges in each of the three dimensions. Thus, regardless of the, particular disposition of any root which may, be located in the bore of a drain, definite assurance is had that one of the cutting edges v22;,211,..01llewil i be properly located with respect thereto. so as to cut it away and permit of its removal. Thecutting edge 22 is locatedtransversely of the cutting edge 2-8. and cutsin the same direction of rotation as the cutting edge 24; and the cutting edge2-8.

While the operation of the tool aboved'esoribed isbelieved to. be obvious: from: the description given, it may be briefly summarized: by noting that an appropriate ope-rating handle is first attached to the sleeve It). throughthe medium of the threads I2. The toolis now inserted into the bore of the sewer or. drain tobe cleaned with the turn. it leading the way. As: thetool is'rotated under the influence of the operating member, the helical body H.wi'1l cause it to feed for wardly. As roots or other foreign material are encountered, the cuttingedges 22, 24 and 28 will cut thereinto. Whenever it is desired, thetool may be withdrawn and the materials socutaway will come out with the tool.

In, many instances, one of the-cutting edgeswill have become so imbedded in a root as to cause a firm interlock therewith; Thus,- when the tcol is withdrawn. the whole root will come out with it.

After each withdrawal, the tool may beagain inserted. and the operation repeated until theentire sewer or drainis clean.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth,.it" is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited tov the exact constructions, mechanisms, and devices illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the'inventioninto practice within the purview of the-appended-'claimsz- What is claimedis:

1. In a tool for cleaning sewers, drains--and-.

the like, a main body memberconsisting ofa; plurality of helical turns, the endmostturn at one end of said bodymember having a-freeedge formed as. a cutting edge, and alcutting-element. arranged in a plane substantially normal to said cutting edge and across. said. endmostturn of. said helical body member. 1

2. A tool for cleaning;seweradrains, andfthe:

end thereof and secured, thereto,. said cuttingelement being formedwith a, cutting edge along one longitudinaledge thereof; and'a second cutting element positioned: on the-endmost turnof said body member and transversely ofisaidi-body.

member at said other end thereof and secured thereto, said second cutting element being formed with a cutting edge thereon located transversely of said body member and cutting in the same direction of rotation as the first named cutting edge.

3. A tool for cleaning sewers, drains, and the like, comprising a body. member made up of a. plurality oi helical turns, means, for securing an operating handle to one end of said body member, a cutting element positioned longitudinally of said body member between the two endmost turns of said body member adjacent the other end thereof and secured thereto, said cutting element' being formed with a cutting edge along one longitudinal edge thereof, and a second cutting element positioned on the endmost turn of said body member and transversely of said body member at said other end thereof and secured thereto, said second cutting element being-formed with acutting edge thereon located transversely of said body member and cutting in thesamedirection ofrotation as the first named cutting edge, the free end of the endmost turn at said other end of said body member being formed with: a cutting edge thereon located transversely of the second named cutting edge and-cutting in these-me direction of rotation as said first and. second namedcutting edges.

4. A- tool for cleaning sewers, drains, and'the like, comprising a body member made up ofa plurality of helical turns, means for securing an operating handle to one end of said body member; and a cutting element positioned longitudinally of said body member between the two endmost turnsof said body member adjacent the other end thereof and secured thereto, said. cutting element being formed with a cutting edgealong one longitudinal edge thereof, the -free end of the endmost turn at said other end of" saidbody member being formed with a cutting edge thereon cutting in the same direction of rotation as said first named cutting edge;

5'; A tool for cleaning sewers, drains,- and the like, comprising a body member made up of a plurality of helical turns, means for securing an operating handl'eto oneendof said body memher, a cutting element positioned on the endmost turnofsaid body member and transversely of saidbody member at the other end thereof. and secured" thereto, said cutting element being formed with a. cuttingedge thereon located transversely of said bodymember; the free end of the endmost turn at said other end of said body member being formed with a cutting edge thereon located transversely'of the first named cutting edge-and cutting in the same direction of rotation assaid' first named cutting edge.

' GEQRGE W: KIESLER, SR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES, PATENTS Number; Name Date 1,600,373. Stremel-- Sept. 21, 1926 1,318,353 Utley July-l8, 1933 25051 700, Grace Aug.,l8, 1936 2,184=,1.0,8. Akeyson; Dec. 19, 1939 $528,300: Degner Oct. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country, Date 3.36.008 Erance Feb 23,1904, 

